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Abstract:

A ratchet device with stable structure includes a control unit, at least
three receiving spaces defined on the top plane of the control unit, the
receiving spaces communicating with each other, a pair of blockers and a
elastomer located in each receiving space, a ratchet unit connected to
the control unit, the ratchet unit having a spindle formed at one end
thereof, a plurality of teeth formed around the periphery of the ratchet
unit, the teeth engaged with the blockers of the control unit; a
switching unit connected to the ratchet unit, at least three push sticks
extruded from the bottom of the switching unit for pushing against the
blockers. Therefore, the amounts of engaging faces among the blockers and
the teeth are as enough as possible to make the engagement between the
blockers and the teeth stable during an external torsion.

Claims:

1. A ratchet device with stable structure comprising: a control unit, at
least three receiving spaces defined on the top plane of the control
unit, the receiving spaces communicating with each other, a pair of
blockers and a elastomer located in each receiving space; a ratchet unit
connected to the control unit, the ratchet unit having a spindle formed
at one end thereof, a plurality of teeth formed around the periphery of
the ratchet unit, the teeth engaged with the blockers of the control
unit; and a switching unit connected to the ratchet unit, at least three
push sticks extruded from the bottom of the switching unit for pushing
against the blockers.

2. The ratchet device with stable structure as claimed in claim 1,
wherein at least three receiving grooves are respectively defined between
each two of the receiving spaces and the receiving grooves are
respectively corresponding to the corresponding push sticks of the
switching unit.

3. The ratchet device with stable structure as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the receiving spaces are symmetrical to each other.

4. The ratchet device with stable structure as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the cross-section of each one of the receiving spaces is almost
triangle-shaped.

5. The ratchet device with stable structure as claimed in claim 1,
wherein each blocker has an engaging portion.

6. The ratchet device with stable structure as claimed in claim 1,
wherein each elastomer of the control unit is a spring.

7. The ratchet device with stable structure as claimed in claim 1,
wherein a receiving hole is opened on the top plane of the control unit
for receiving a fourth elastomer and a bead; three engaging grooves are
defined on the bottom of the switching unit; the bead of the control unit
is selectively engaged with one of the engaging grooves.

8. The ratchet device with stable structure as claimed in claim 1,
wherein a first central hole is opened on the control unit therethrough;
the cross-section of the spindle of the ratchet unit is tetragon-shaped;
a second circular groove is defined around the periphery of the spindle;
the spindle passes through the first central hole of the control unit; a
first connecting ring is engaged with the second circular groove of the
spindle for connecting the spindle to the control unit.

9. The ratchet device with stable structure as claimed in claim 8,
wherein the first connecting ring has a notch.

10. The ratchet device with stable structure as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the ratchet unit has a cylindrical-shaped connecting end formed
at another end thereof; a first circular groove is defined around the
periphery of the connecting end; a second central hole is opened through
the switching unit; the switching unit encircles the connecting end of
the ratchet unit via the second central hole; a second connecting ring is
engaged with the first circular groove of the ratchet unit for connecting
the switching unit to the ratchet unit.

11. The ratchet device with stable structure as claimed in claim 10,
wherein the second connecting ring has a notch.

12. The ratchet device with stable structure as claimed in claim 1,
wherein a rod is extruded on the outside periphery of the control unit.

13. The ratchet device with stable structure as claimed in claim 1,
wherein a connecting portion is extruded from the top plane of a control
unit; a pivot rod is pivoted on the connecting portion.

14. The ratchet device with stable structure as claimed in claim 1,
wherein a connecting portion is extruded from the top plane of a control
unit for connecting the control unit to a handle bar; a ratchet unit is
mounted to the control unit; a second connecting hole is opened at the
head of the ratchet unit; the cross-section of the second connecting hole
is hexagon-shaped; the second connecting hole encircles the tool bit for
connecting the tool bit to the ratchet unit.

15. The ratchet device with stable structure as claimed in claim 14,
wherein the cross-section of the connecting portion is polygon-shaped;
the handle bar has a first connecting hole opened at one end thereof; the
cross-section of the first connecting hole is polygon-shaped; the
connecting portion of the control unit is inserted into the first
connecting hole of the handle bar for connecting the control unit to the
handle bar.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a ratchet device, and more
particularly to a ratchet device with stable structure.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] A conventional ratchet device comprises a control unit 21. The
control unit 21 has a central hole 211 opened therethrough. Two pairs of
side grooves (a first side groove 212A, a second side groove 212B, a
third side groove 213A, a fourth side groove 213B) defined on two sides
of the central hole 211 of the control unit 21. The side grooves 212A,
212B, 213A, 213B communicates with the central hole 211. A first
elastomer 22A, a second elastomer 22B, a third elastomer 23A and a fourth
elastomer 23B are respectively received in the first side groove 212A,
the second side groove 212B, the third side groove 213A and the fourth
side groove 213B. A first blocker 24A, a second blocker 24B, a third
blocker 25A and a fourth blocker 25B are respectively received in the
first side groove 212A, the second side groove 212B, the third side
groove 213A and the fourth side groove 213B. A first protrusion 241A, a
second protrusion 241B, a third protrusion 251A and a fourth protrusion
251B are respectively extruded at one ends of the first blocker 24A, the
second blocker 24B, the third blocker 25A and the fourth blocker 25B. A
first engaging portion 242A, a second engaging portion 242B, a third
engaging portion 252A and a fourth engaging portion 252B are respectively
formed at another ends of the first blocker 24A, the second blocker 24B,
the third blocker 25A and the fourth blocker 25B. The control unit 21 has
a receiving hole 214 opened on the outside periphery thereof. The
receiving hole 214 receives a fifth elastomer 26 and a bead 27. A ratchet
unit 28 is located in the central hole 211 of the control unit 21. A
polygonal hole 281 is opened at one end of the ratchet unit 28. A
plurality of teeth 282 are formed around the periphery of the ratchet
unit 28. The engaging portions 242A, 242B, 252A, 252B engage with the
teeth 282. The control unit 21 is encircled by a switching unit 29. The
switching unit 29 has a first push portion 291A, a second push portion
291B, a third push portion 292A and a fourth push portion 292B, those are
respectively corresponding to the first protrusion 241A, the second
protrusion 241B, the third protrusion 251A and the fourth protrusion
251B. When the push portions 291A, 291B, 292A, 292B push against the
protrusions 241A, 241B, 251A, 251B respectively, the blockers 24A, 24B,
25A, 25B move along the side grooves 212A, 212B, 213A, 213B respectively.
A first engaging groove 293A, a second engaging groove 293B and a third
engaging groove 293C are defined on the inner periphery of the switching
unit 29. The bead 27 of the control unit 21 is selectively engaged with
one of the engaging grooves 293A, 293B, 293C. When a user rotates the
switching unit 29 clockwise, the third push portion 292A and the fourth
push portion 292B of the switching unit 29 push against the third blocker
25A and the fourth blocker 25B respectively, and the third blocker 25A
and the fourth blocker 25B move along the third side groove 213A and the
fourth side groove 213B respectively, so that the third engaging portion
252A and the fourth engaging portion 252B are disengaged with the teeth
282, and the first engaging portion 242A and the second engaging portion
242B keep being engaged with the teeth 282, thereafter the bead 27 is
engaged with the first engaging groove 293A. Under this arrangement, when
the user rotates the control unit 21 clockwise to operate, the ratchet
unit 28 rotates with the rotation of the control unit 21, because the
first engaging portion 242A and the second engaging portion 242B are
engaged with the teeth 282; when the user rotates the control unit 21
counterclockwise to operate, the ratchet unit 28 does not rotate with the
rotation of the control unit 21 because the first engaging portion 242A
and the second engaging portion 242B are respectively moved toward the
first elastomer 22A and the second elastomer 22B by the pushing from the
teeth 282. Thus, the first engaging portion 242A and the second engaging
portion 242B are disengaged with the teeth 282 step by step by the
compression of the first elastomer 22A and the second elastomer 22B.
However, the conventional ratchet device has one shortcoming as
following:

[0005] Because the engaging faces between one pair of the engaging
portions 242A, 242B, 252A, 252B and the teeth 282 are too few to make the
engagement between one pair of the engaging portions 242A, 242B, 252A,
252B and the teeth 282 stable for suffering a large torsion. The engaging
portions 242A, 242B, 252A, 252B or the teeth 282 might be broken if the
external torsion were over the strength of the structure among the
engaging portions 242A, 242B, 252A, 252B and the teeth 282.

[0006] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the
disadvantages of the conventional. Further benefits and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the
detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying
drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The main objective of the present invention is to provide an
improved ratchet device.

[0008] To achieve the objective, a ratchet device with stable structure
comprises a control unit, at least three receiving spaces defined on the
top plane of the control unit, the receiving spaces communicating with
each other, a pair of blockers and a elastomer located in each receiving
space, a ratchet unit connected to the control unit, the ratchet unit
having a spindle formed at one end thereof, a plurality of teeth formed
around the periphery of the ratchet unit, the teeth engaged with the
blockers of the control unit, a switching unit connected to the ratchet
unit, at least three push sticks extruded from the bottom of the
switching unit for pushing against the blockers, at least three receiving
grooves respectively defined between each two of the receiving spaces and
the receiving grooves respectively corresponding to the corresponding
push sticks of the switching unit, the receiving spaces being symmetrical
to each other, the cross-section of each one of the receiving spaces
being almost triangle-shaped, each blocker having an engaging portion,
each elastomer of the control unit being a spring, a receiving hole being
opened on the top plane of the control unit for receiving a fourth
elastomer and a bead, three engaging grooves defined on the bottom of the
switching unit, the bead of the control unit selectively engaged with one
of the engaging grooves, a first central hole opened on the control unit
therethrough, the cross-section of the spindle of the ratchet unit being
tetragon-shaped, a second circular groove defined around the periphery of
the spindle, the spindle passing through the first central hole of the
control unit, a first connecting ring engaged with the second circular
groove of the spindle for connecting the spindle to the control unit, the
first connecting ring having a notch, the ratchet unit having a
cylindrical-shaped connecting end formed at another end thereof, a first
circular groove defined around the periphery of the connecting end, a
second central hole opened through the switching unit, the switching unit
encircling the connecting end of the ratchet unit via the second central
hole, a second connecting ring engaged with the first circular groove of
the ratchet unit for connecting the switching unit to the ratchet unit,
the second connecting ring having a notch, a rod extruded on the outside
periphery of the control unit, a connecting portion extruded from the top
plane of a control unit, a pivot rod pivoted on the connecting portion, a
connecting portion extruded from the top plane of a control unit for
connecting the control unit to a handle bar, a ratchet unit mounted to
the control unit, a second connecting hole opened at the head of the
ratchet unit, the cross-section of the second connecting hole being
hexagon-shaped, the second connecting hole encircling the tool bit for
connecting the tool bit to the ratchet unit, the cross-section of the
connecting portion being polygon-shaped, the handle bar having a first
connecting hole opened at one end thereof, the cross-section of the first
connecting hole being polygon-shaped, the connecting portion of the
control unit inserted into the first connecting hole of the handle bar
for connecting the control unit to the handle bar.

[0009] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with
appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional ratchet device
of the prior art;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a ratchet device with stable
structure of the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the ratchet device with stable
structure;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the ratchet device with stable
structure;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the ratchet device with stable
structure for showing the operating under the two-way rotating mode;

[0015]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the ratchet device with stable
structure for showing the operating under the counterclockwise rotating
mode;

[0016]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the ratchet device with stable
structure for showing the operating under the clockwise rotating mode;

[0017]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the
present invention; and

[0018]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the present
invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 2-4, a ratchet device with stable structure in
accordance with the present invention comprises a control unit 30, a
ratchet unit 40 and a switching unit 50. A rod 301 is extruded on the
outside periphery of the control unit 30 for a user to handle. A first
central hole 302 is opened on the control unit 30 therethrough. At least
three receiving spaces (a first receiving space 303A, a second receiving
space 303B and a third receiving space 303C are presented in this
embodiment) are defined on the top plane of the control unit 30. The
receiving spaces 303A, 303B, 303C communicate with each other and
communicate with the first central hole 302. The angle between the
receiving spaces 303A and 303B, 303B and 303C, or 303C and 303A is 120
degree in this embodiment. The cross-section of each one of the receiving
spaces 303A, 303B, 303C is almost triangle-shaped. At least three
receiving grooves (a first receiving groove 304A, a second receiving
groove 304B and a third receiving groove 304C are presented in this
embodiment) are respectively defined between the adjacent two of the
receiving spaces 303A, 303B, 303C. The first receiving groove 304A is
defined between the first receiving space 303A and the second receiving
space 303B; the second receiving groove 304B is defined between the
second receiving space 303B and the third receiving space 303C; the third
receiving groove 304C is defined between the first receiving space 303A
and the third receiving space 303C. A first blocker 31A with a first
engaging portion 311A and a second blocker 31B with a second engaging
portion 311B are located in the first receiving space 303A, and a first
elastomer 32 is located between the first blocker 31A and the second
blocker 31B. A third blocker 33A with a third engaging portion 331A and a
fourth blocker 33B with a fourth engaging portion 331B are located in the
second receiving space 303B, and a second elastomer 34 is located between
the third blocker 33A and the fourth blocker 33B. A fifth blocker 35A
with a fifth engaging portion 351A and a sixth blocker 35B with a sixth
engaging portion 351B are located in the third receiving space 303C, and
a third elastomer 36 is located between the fifth blocker 35A and the
sixth blocker 35B. The three pairs of the blockers, 31A and 31B, 33A and
33B, 35A and 35B are symmetrical to each other. A receiving hole 305 is
opened on the top plane of the control unit 30 for receiving a fourth
elastomer 37 and a bead 38 (the elastomers 32, 34, 36, 37 are the springs
in this embodiment). A plurality of teeth 41 are formed around the
periphery of the ratchet unit 40. The ratchet unit 40 has a spindle 42
formed at one end thereof. The ratchet unit 40 has a connecting end 43
formed at another end thereof. The cross-section of the spindle 42 of the
ratchet unit 40 is tetragon-shaped in this embodiment. The spindle 42
connects to a tool bit (not shown). The connecting end 43 is
cylindrical-shaped. A first circular groove 44 is defined around the
periphery of the connecting end 43. A second circular groove 45 is
defined around the periphery of the spindle 42. The spindle 42 of the
ratchet unit 40 passes through the first central hole 302 of the control
unit 30. The engaging portions 311A, 311B, 331A, 331B, 351A, 351B of the
blockers 31A, 31B, 33A, 33B, 35A, 35B engage with the teeth 41. A first
connecting ring 46 with a notch is engaged with the second circular
groove 45 of the spindle 42 for connecting the spindle 42 to the control
unit 30. A second central hole 51 is opened through the switching unit
50. At least three push sticks (a first push stick 52, a second push
stick 53 and a third push stick 54 are presented in this embodiment) are
extruded from the bottom of the switching unit 50. The first push stick
52, the second push stick 53 and the third push stick 54 of the switching
unit 50 are respectively corresponding to the first receiving groove
304A, the second receiving groove 304B and the third receiving groove
304C of the control unit 30. The first push stick 52, the second push
stick 53 and the third push stick 54 of the switching unit 50 are
respectively received in the first receiving groove 304A, the second
receiving groove 304B and the third receiving groove 304C of the control
unit 30. The first push stick 52 pushes against the first blocker 31A or
the sixth blocker 35B; the second push stick 53 pushes against the second
blocker 31B or the third blocker 33A; the third push stick 54 pushes
against the fourth blocker 33B or the fifth blocker 35A. A first engaging
groove 55, a second engaging groove 56 and a third engaging groove 57 are
defined on the bottom of the switching unit 50. The bead 38 of the
control unit 30 is selectively engaged with one of the engaging grooves
55, 56, 57. The switching unit 50 encircles the connecting end 43 of the
ratchet unit 40 via the second central hole 51. The switching unit 50
caps the control unit 30 and the push sticks 52, 53, 54 of the switching
unit 50 are respectively inserted into the corresponding receiving
grooves 304A, 304B, 304C of the control unit 30. The bead 38 of the
control unit 30 is engaged with the second engaging groove 56 of the
switching unit 50. A second connecting ring 58 with a notch is engaged
with the first circular groove 44 of the ratchet unit 40 for connecting
the switching unit 50 to the ratchet unit 40 so that the ratchet unit 40
is positioned between the control unit 30 and the switching unit 50.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 5, when the user does not rotate the switching
unit 50 and the bead 38 is engaged with the second engaging groove 56 of
the switching unit 50, the push sticks 52, 53, 54 do not push against the
blockers 31A, 31B, 33A, 33B, 35A, 35B and the blockers 31A, 31B, 33A,
33B, 35A, 35B do not move away from the ratchet unit 40 so that the
engaging portions 311A, 311B, 331A, 331B, 351A, 351B keep being engaged
with the teeth 41 of the ratchet unit 40. Under this arrangement, when
the user rotates the control unit 30 clockwise or counterclockwise to
operate, the ratchet unit 40 rotates with the rotation of the control
unit 30 because the blockers 31A, 31B, 33A, 33B, 35A, 35B engage with the
teeth 41 of the ratchet unit 40.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 6, when the user rotates the switching unit 50
clockwise, the first push stick 52, the second push stick 53 and the
third push stick 54 respectively push against the first blocker 31A, the
third blocker 33A and the fifth blocker 35A. The first blocker 31A, the
third blocker 33A and the fifth blocker 35A are moved away from the
ratchet unit 40 and respectively press against the ends of the first
elastomer 32, the second elastomer 34 and the third elastomer 36 so that
the first engaging portion 311A, the third engaging portion 331A and the
fifth engaging portion 351A are disengaged with the teeth 41 of the
ratchet unit 40 and the second engaging portion 311B. The fourth engaging
portion 331B and the sixth engaging portion 351B keep being engaged with
the teeth 41 of the ratchet unit 40. Thereafter the bead 38 is engaged
with the first engaging groove 55 of the switching unit 50. Under this
arrangement, when the user rotates the control unit 30 clockwise to
operate, the ratchet unit 40 rotates with the rotation of the control
unit 30 because the second engaging portion 311B, the fourth engaging
portion 331B and the sixth engaging portion 351B are engaged with the
teeth 41 of the ratchet unit 40; when the user rotates the control unit
30 counterclockwise to operate, the ratchet unit 40 does not rotate with
the rotation of the control unit 30 because the second engaging portion
311B, the fourth engaging portion 331B and the sixth engaging portion
351B are respectively moved toward the first elastomer 32, the second
elastomer 34 and the third elastomer 36 by the pushing from the teeth 41.
Thus, the second engaging portion 311B, the fourth engaging portion 331B
and the sixth engaging portion 351B are disengaged with the teeth 41 step
by step by the compression of the first elastomer 32, the second
elastomer 34 and the third elastomer 36.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 7, when the user rotates the switching unit 50
counterclockwise, the first push stick 52, the second push stick 53 and
the third push stick 54 respectively push against the second blocker 31B,
the fourth blocker 33B and the sixth blocker 35B. The second blocker 31B,
the fourth blocker 33B and the sixth blocker 35B are moved away from the
ratchet unit 40 and respectively press against the other ends of the
first elastomer 32, the second elastomer 34 and the third elastomer 36 so
that the second engaging portion 311B, the fourth engaging portion 331B
and the sixth engaging portion 351B are disengaged with the teeth 41 of
the ratchet unit 40 and the first engaging portion 311A. The third
engaging portion 331A and the fifth engaging portion 351A keep being
engaged with the teeth 41 of the ratchet unit 40. Thereafter the bead 38
is engaged with the third engaging groove 57 of the switching unit 50.
Under this arrangement, when the user rotates the control unit 30
counterclockwise to operate, the ratchet unit 40 rotates with the
rotation of the control unit 30 because the first engaging portion 311A,
the third engaging portion 331A and the fifth engaging portion 351A are
engaged with the teeth 41 of the ratchet unit 40; when the user rotates
the control unit 30 clockwise for operating, the ratchet unit 40 does not
rotate with the rotation of the control unit 30 because the first
engaging portion 311A, the third engaging portion 331A and the fifth
engaging portion 351A are respectively moved toward the first elastomer
32, the second elastomer 34 and the third elastomer 36 by the pushing
from the teeth 41 and are disengaged with the teeth 41 step by step by
the compression of the first elastomer 32, the second elastomer 34 and
the third elastomer 36.

[0023] Therefore, the amounts of engaging faces among the six engaging
portions 311A, 311B, 331A, 331B, 351A, 351B and the teeth 41 are as
enough as possible to make the engagement between the engaging portions
311A, 311B, 331A, 331B, 351A, 351B and the teeth 41 stable during an
external torsion. Thus, the engaging portions 311A, 311B, 331A, 331B,
351A, 351B or the teeth 41 would not be broken easily during the larger
external torsion acting.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 8, the differences of the second embodiment is
described as following. A connecting portion 306A is extruded from the
top plane of a control unit 30A. A pivot rod 60 is pivoted on the
connecting portion 306A via a connecting end 61. A ratchet unit 40A is
mounted to the control unit 30A. A spindle 42A is formed at the head of
the ratchet unit 40A for connecting the tool bit (not shown) to the
ratchet unit 40A. The user handles the pivot rod 60 for operating via the
ratchet unit 40A.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 9, the differences of the third embodiment is
described as following. A connecting portion 307B is extruded from the
top plane of a control unit 30B. The cross-section of the connecting
portion 307B is polygon-shaped. A handle bar 70 has a first connecting
hole 71 opened at one end thereof. The cross-section of the first
connecting hole 71 is polygon-shaped. The connecting portion 307B of the
control unit 30B is inserted into the first connecting hole 71 of the
handle bar 70 for connecting the control unit 30B to the handle bar 70,
so that when the user rotates the handle bar 70 to operate, the control
unit 30B rotates with the rotation of the handle bar 70. A ratchet unit
40B is mounted to the control unit 30B. A second connecting hole 42B is
opened at the head of the ratchet unit 40B. The cross-section of the
second connecting hole 42B is hexagon-shaped. The second connecting hole
42B encircles the tool bit for connecting the tool bit to the ratchet
unit 40B. The user handles the handle bar 70 for operating via the
ratchet unit 40B.

[0026] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its
preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible
modifications and variations can be made without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.